NORTHWICH high flyer Martyn Hooker found himself hob-nobbing with the top brass on a recent trip to India.

Martyn, a 19-year-old warrant officer with 146 Northwich Air Training Corps (ATC), was among a group of UK cadets who spent two weeks in New Delhi as guests of the Indian Government at its National Cadet Corps Republic Day Camp.

While there he attended several tea parties at the homes of a number of high profile celebrities including the president, prime minister, defence minister, chief of air staff and chief of army staff.

Martyn, of Moss Road, Winnington, also took part in many of the activities experienced by his Indian cadet counterparts and competed against their senior wing in shooting and an obstacle course.

Some of the more official visits included the Republic Day Parade, where the Indian military was displayed, and Beating The Retreat.

He said: 'To meet people from different countries and cultures was a great experience and I will hopefully stay in contact with many of them.

'It was an amazing visit and to be treated as VIPs in a foreign country made these two weeks an experience I will never forget.'

Martyn's ambition is to become a pilot or adventure training officer in the RAF.

'There is no question that joining the ATC has been one of the best decisions of my life so far,' he said. nThe next ATC intake is on Tuesday night at 7pm at the HQ on Queen Street. For details, visit www.the aircadets.org